Research and innovation in South African universities: from the triple helix’s perspective

Abstract

This study explores the research and innovation in South African universities within the triple-helix framework. Patents and publications data have been used as output indicators to map the R&D activities of South African universities. The study observed that universities are the most prolific publishers and constitute about 91% of total South African publications. However, universities altogether produce only about 14% of total South African patents. Only a few universities are responsible for both patenting and publication portfolio of South Africa. The collaboration patterns from joint patents show that only about 19% patents are collaborative patents. South African public research institutes are more active in joint patents with universities followed by the foreign universities but local firms are less active in collaborative patents. The similar trends are observed in co-authored articles also. The study recommends that collaboration between universities and local firms need to be strengthened to develop technological capabilities in South Africa. South African universities need to collaborate more with the industries, particularly the local industries or institutes to achieve the ‘entrepreneurial university’ in terms of patents and technology transfer.

Abstract Post-apartheid South African Government had realized the role of technology and innovation for national development. The science and technology based industries are being considered as priority areas. Using the analytical framework of Technological Capability and Network analysis, this paper is an attempt to assess the national capability building in high technology. Patents granted to South African inventors in ICT and Biotechnology industries are considered to measure the technological capability. The patents granted in USPTO during 1970-2014 shows that in recent years there is certainly an increase in patenting activity of South African entities. However, a clear and significant trend is yet to emerge. The study further isolated the high technology patents based on the OECD suggested IPC codes. Among the total 5,264 granted patents about 1,100 are considered as the high technology patents. These high technology patents are grouped into three categories. The categories are South African entity assigned patents (530 patents) foreign entities assigned patents (456 patents) and individually assigned (220 patents) patents. In ICT industry maximum patents was granted in Computers and office machinery and in Biotechnology maximum patents are granted in Medicinal and bioengineering areas related to microorganisms. Amazon Technologies Inc, (34 patents) is the most prolific patentee followed by CSIR, (28 patents). Recently, most of the high technology patents are granted as joint patents. This shows an increasing collaboration among SA and foreign entities. In terms of collaboration, Amazon Technologies Inc, is the most prominent actor among the foreign firms and University of Cape Town, is the most prominent among the SA institutes. The collaboration map shows that the collaborative patents are only among a few institutes. There is scope for indigenous entities to learn and elevate along the value chain. The study concludes with relevant policy lessons regarding the increasing foreign R&D in SA.

* Swapan Kumar Patra: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa email:
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AbstractEconomic success of a nation is highly related to Scientific and technological capability building. Therefore, both industrially developed and developing nations follow explicit strategies to increase their technological competency. However, technological capability building cannot be completed in isolation. It is a long term process and requires a country to pass through different phases of learning, infrastructure development, human resources management, and institutions building. This paper analyses Indian and South African scientific and technological capability through the major input (R&D expenditure, manpower) and output indicators (Technology balance of payment, scholarly publication, patents and so on). To measure the technological capability of these two emerging economics, this study uses World Bank data for R&D expenditure and R&D manpower, scientific publication data from Scopus database and patents granted in United States Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) database. The study observed that in India is ahead of South Africa in some respect but in some areas South Africa’s performance is quite good. The study concludes with the policy recommendation from the developing countries’ particularly the South African perspective which includes the technological learning through the increasing collaboration between foreign firms and the local firms or institutions.

* Swapan Kumar Patra: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa email:
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Innovation Research for Integrated African Development: Colloquium for Journal and Book Publication, (9th -11th March 2016) Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa (paper is under review for the forthcoming book chapter)